Bringing people together in community is a difficult thing to do well – especially if the motivation is to encourage mutual learning, to build solidarity or to work through complex and challenging issues. This type of community work requires creative and careful facilitation to shape everyone’s  time and experience, in ways that are collectively owned and practiced with understanding. 

This creative practice of holding and building communities is the topic of this Friday Lunch talk by Matthew Evans, Co-director at Deveron Projects. Reflecting on his experience of working in theatre, Matthew will consider how bringing people together in community is connected to performance and performing, and how his current role at Deveron Projects has helped him learn about this as a type of creative practice.

Matthew trained at the National Theatre Studio in London before establishing and directing Gameshow, an award winning collaborative theatre group that toured three experimental shows across the UK. Now, as Deveron Projects' Co-director, the responsibility of shaping and holding community spaces informs all of his work.

Come along to hear about Matthew’s work and enjoy a free tasty meal – no booking required just turn up. Lunch will be a gluten free and vegan chickpea, courgette and tomato salad with rhubarb crumble for dessert.

Accessibility

Friday Lunch is usually attended by 15-25 people. It takes place in Square Deal (22 The Square, Huntly AB54 8BR), the creative and community hub on Huntly Square. There is a guide to visiting Square Deal online here. This includes information on travelling to the venue, photos and plans of the space, and sensory information.

This is a family friendly event and children are very welcome. We have highchairs and children’s cutlery/crockery available.

There are facilities for heating up your own food if desired.

This event is free, but donations of £2 to cover the cost of ingredients and any travel/access costs for the speaker are welcomed.

Allergens/dietary Notes

This meal is vegan, gluten free and contains chickpeas, coconut oil and nuts. Food at this event is prepared in a kitchen that may have traces of nuts, seeds, dairy and other allergens. Everything is clearly labelled. Please let us know if you are planning on coming along and have any food allergies by emailing: bruce@deveron-projects.com

About Friday Lunch

The sharing of food is a great leveller. On the second and fourth Friday of the month, we invite people who live or work in and around Huntly to speak about things they are passionate about – this could include their work, a project, an area of research or hobby. Topics are broad and change every time, from nature to community development, writing to food, history to social justice among many others.

About the HOME Programme

This event is part of our HOME programme. Through regular events and artists’ residencies, HOME supports the everyday and creative practices of cooking and eating, chatting and caring, sharing skills and learning together. HOME regular events include Friday Lunch, as well as the monthly Food Chain cookery workshop and a stall at the Huntly Farmers' Market. These events celebrate local knowledge and experiences, and explore what it's like to live and work in and around Huntly. Through this work we aim to build more complex understandings of Huntly and its place in the world.

If you'd like to contribute to the HOME programme, or know someone who you'd love to hear from, then get in touch with us on: info@deveron-projects.com.